Fin radiator



Jan. l, 1935. w. G. LAIRD 1,985,932

l FIN RADIATOR Filded Jan. e, 1932 2 sheets-sheet 2 Parchemin-.'11, i935 i y' t 1,985,932 'I UNITED ns'rATlezs PATENT OFFICE] l Wilbur Ney. Applicatlonz.: 6,( N0. 585,054

' This invention relates to radiators of the n medium, an air valve may be inserted in the end type and more particularly to an assembled n piece 10 at 16. radiator and a method of assembly. t The members 4 are preferably made by ma- In the manufacture of iin radiators it is the chine from a thick walled tube or pipe such as a 5 common practice to place sheet metal iins in seamless steel or steel alloy tube. As shown at 5 spaced relation on one or more tubes, for the the right in Fig. 1 the annular members or rings heating medium, and then to either solder or 4, before being forced into the position shown galvanize the ns to the tubes by simply dipping at the left lin Fig. 1, each include an integral the assembly in a bath of hot solder or galvanizannular shoulder 18 on the outer rim of one side 1o ing metal. Radiators produced by this procedure and an integral frusto conical projection 20 ex`- 10 however, are unatisfactory because they are'relatending from the inner rim or edge of the other f tively ineflicient and because the fins occasionside' of the ring. The ns 2 which may be made ally become loose on the tubes. Furthermore the f Very thin copper, aluminum 01' Other Suitable. use of the metaljoint between iin and heating preferably non-corrosive metal, are pressed as at l medium tube causes a substantial temperature 22, to a form adaptedie t the shoulder 18 and l5 drop which materially affects the usefulness of -corresponding side of members 4. The inner radiators of this type. edge of each fin is preferably turned as at 24 so The primary objectof the invention is therethat it lies at along the inside of rings 4 when 4fore to produce a fin type radiator of inexpensive the assembly is pressed into iinal positionconstruction which will be highly efficient. The frustO COnieal projections 20 are cut to a 20 A further object is the production of a nn predetermined length such that the fins andmemtype radiator which comprises a plurality of asbers 4 may be readily assembled in Proper position sembled units each including a n and a coupling. as shOWn at the right in Fig- 1, andOf such a, member, and in which the metal of the iin is length that the compressing force exerted for ex- 25 adapted to be directly heated by the heating ample by the bolt 14 Will fOree eaeh projection 20 25 medium, l against the shoulder 22 of the adjacent fin and it Afurther object of the invention is the producin turn against the Shoulder 18 with sufficient tion of an improved spacer-coupler member of pressure t0 form a uid-tight joint between the special construction for use in assembling fin ns2 and the members 4. Since'the ring projectype radiators. tions'20 are frusto conical or at an angle to the 30 With these and other objects in view the invenaxis 0f the radiator, and the outer edge of each tion will be described in detail in connection bears against the Shoulders 13 and 22,-i3l1e force with the accompanying drawings in which: with which the projections are passed against the 1 is' a. view pai-uy in section 0f a radiator shoulders is considerably greater than the force including the preferred form of the invention. applied longitudinally of the radiator. 35

' Fig. 2 is an enlarged broken sectional view of AS ,ShOWn in Fig 1. the end pieces 6 and 10 are a modified form of the construction shownin machined With annular shoulders similar to the Fig. 1. shoulders 18 on members 4,`and instead of using Fig. 3 is an enlarged broken sectional view of the usualrng 4 adjacent end piece 1.0, a special 40 a slightly modied form of the construction ring 26 iS uSed Which iS previded 0n beth sides 40 shown in Fig. 1. with the frusto conical flange or projection 20`.

Fig. 4 is' a view similar to Fig. 1 showing a -The radiator may be madeup of alternating doumodified form 0f the invention, l I ble anged rings 26 and double shouldered rings Fig. 5 is an enlarged broken section of a modi- (Fig. 4), but the similar rings 4 are preferred in 4'5 cation of the construction shown in Fig. 4. this Construction, eXCeptfOr making the one end 45 Referring to Fig, 1 of the drawings, the prejoint with ring 26. Shoulders o'n the end pieces 6 ferred form of the improved radiator of the pres and 10 are preferred beeause they are usually of ent invention comprises a plurality of sheet metal cast iron which is ordinarily unsuited for the cone fins 2, of annular construction, alternating with lSeeiiens 20- specially constructed annular or ring spacer- In the construction shown in Fig. 2, the ele- 50 connector members 4,` an end piece 6 provided ments 18'and 20 are merely reversed on the rings with a conduit 8 for supplying a. heating medium, 4,. The shoulder projects AfIOIn the inner Circuman end-piece 10 provided with an outlet conduit ference of the ring while the flange 26 projects 12, anda bolt 14 for holding the elements of the from its outer circumference inwardly. The

radiator together. If steam is used as a heating shoulders 18 shown in enlarged section in Fig. 2 55 made much wider than when a single iin is Imedto provide. for necessary n spacing, and much (and mg.' si' are sugnuy under-cm:` or hooked so that the nn 2 and outer edge of elements 20 are sulxitantially locked in position when once pressed firmly against the shoulders. The shoulders 18- as shown in Fig. 2 are wider atrthe left than at the right where they merge into the body of the rings 4. A v

The construction of/ Fig. 3 shows the use of a plurality of fins 2 ineach joint between adjacent rings 4. In this modification the rings 4 must be less machine work is required for preparation of 'rings 4 for a given radiationsurface.

The radiator shown in Fig. 4 embodies the general features of the radiator of Fig. 1 with the grouped fins as used in the construction of Fig. 3. Instead of using a series of similar rings, this construction includes an assembly comprising groups of fins alternating with double shouldered rings or bands 30 joined end to end in fluid-tight engagement by means of annular metal gasket members 32 having a v-shaped cross-section. The bands or rings 30 are provided with annular shoulders 34 on their outer rims and one'or more annular ns 2 are preferably shaped to fit around each shoulder and project into the space for the heating medium. Adjacent rings 30, or a ring 30 and the shouldered end of pieces 6 or 10 are joined together with the intervening group or pairs of fins by means of the V-shaped members 32, by pressing the two`frusto conical flanges forming the V-gasket against the fins, which in turn are forced against the shoulders 34 on rings 30. 'As in the construction shown in Fig. 1, a given longitudinal force tending to compress the assembly together causes a substantially greater force to be applied against the fins and lshoulders 34 by the flaring cone sections of V-gaskets 32.

The smaller the angle between the anges, the greater the pressure with which they are pressed against shoulders 34, by a given longitudinal force.

The sectional showing at the right in Fig. 4 illustrates approximately the position of the rings,

fins, and V-gasket, before pressure is applied;

while the sections at the left show the gasket compressed and seated firmly against the fins and shoulders. The gaskets 32 are preferably made of scmehard resilient metal such as a steel, steel alloy or brass. In all modications of theinvention, the springiness or resilience of the frusto conical element used in effecting the fluid-tight connections maintains a constant tension in the assembly so that leaks in the joints are avoided.

Fig. 5 shows in enlarged section a modification of the arrangement shown in Fig. 4, in which the shoulders 34 on the rings 30 are on the inner circumference and the V-gasket 32 is reversed and placed outside the space for the heating medium. In this construction openings 36 are out in the inner bends of the fins 2 so that any heating medium which may pass into the space under the v-gasket may be drained back into the radiator.V

While two pairs of ns are shown in Figs. 4 and 5a single iln may be used on each side of the gasket, or three or more may be used as in Fig. 3. The diameter of the ns or their ra purposes than for radiators and such use is contemplated. In air conditioning systems the radiator" maybe used `for heating air in winter Having thus described the invention in its preferred form, what is claimed as new is:

1. A fin radiator, comprising an assembly of relatively thin annular sheet metal fins alternating with relatively thick and wide annular coupler-spacer members, each member including a shoulder on a rim of one side thereof, a corresponding shoulder pressed in leach fin whereby l the n surface lits the shouldered side of said member, an annular projection on the opposite side of each member on the rim diagonally opposite that of said shoulder, said Projection engaging the shoulder of the fin and adjacent meml ber to form a' fluid tight joint, the angle and length of said projection being such that the application of a given force tending lto prs said members and fins together appliesa substantially greater force tending to press said projection against the shoulder on the fin and adjacent member.

2. A radiator of the fin type, comprising an assembly of similar units each including .a iin anda coupling element. said element comprising an annular metal section one. face of which is provided with a shoulder and the other face with a frusto conical projection adapted to abut the shoulder on the element of an adjoining unit. and means for holding the units in assembled position.

3. A radiator of the iin type, comprising an assembly of similar units, eachunit including a fin and a coupling element, said element comprising an annular metal section one side of which is providedy with shoulder as an outer rim and the other side of which is provided with a frusto conical projection from the inner rim of the element adapted to abut the shoulder on the element of an adjoining unit, and means for holding the units in assembled position. A 4. A radiator of the fin type, comprising an assembly of similar units, each unit including a n and a coupling element alternating in the assembly, said element comprising a relatively thick annular metal section, one side of which is provided with a. shoulder as an outer rim, and' the other side of which is provided with an annular projection from its inner rim, the fins and elements being assembled in a manner such that the projection of each element forces the adjacent flnrmly against the shoulder of-an adjoining element therebyforming a fluid tight joint betweenns and elements. i

5. A heat exchanger of the iin type, comprising a series of annular connector elementsand annular iins alternating with each other throughout the series and forming a fluid tight heat exchange section having a substantially .central passageway for a heating medium, said fins-projectingl between said elements to said passageway whereby heat may be conducted directly from the heating medium to the conducting surface of said fins, each of said elements including a means for interlocking with an adjacent element in the se- 6. A nn type heat exchanger, comprising a series of annular sheet metal ilns alternating with annular spacing elements assembled together and forming a nn heat exchanger having a substantially central fluid tight passageway for a heating medium, a locking member on the side of each spacing element locking into the adjacent element through the intervening nn, said ns extending between said elements to said passageway, whereby heat may be conducted directly from said heating medium in said passageway through said ns to -the conducting surface thereof. 1

7. In an assembled iin heat exchanger comprising a plurality of annular nns and annular spacing elements alternating with each other in the assembly, an improved spacing element comprising a ring section having on one side a turned or hooked abutment shoulder in the turned or hooked portion of which the adjacent iin is forced and locked in position, to form a fluid tight joint.

8. An improved spacing and connecting element for use in constructing an assembled nn heat exchanger in which thin sheet metal ilns alternate with relatively wide spacing and con-- necting elements, which comprises a ring section of substantial width and thickness compared to the thickness of said fins and including as an integral part a frusto conical ring projecting from one rim of one side thereof.

9. An improved spacing and connecting element for use in constructing an assembled'fln heat exchanger in which a plurality of thin sheet which comprises a ring section of substantial width and thickness compared to the thickness of said ilus, said ring section being provided onl one side with an abutment shoulderrand on the opposite side with a ilexible frusto conical ring extending from the face of the said side.

10. A fin radiator, comprising an assembly of annular ii'ns alternating with annularv ,spacing and coupling members pressed together into locked position.v each member including on one rim of one side thereof a hooked shoulder, a ilangeslike projection on the other side of said member extending from the rim opposite to that of said shoulder a substantial distance along said other side, the fin between adjacent members being crimped into the hooked shoulder of one member and held there in iluld tight engagement by the flange-like projection of the other member.

11. A heat exchanger of the iin type, comprising an assembly of relatively thin annular sheet metal tins alternating successively with relatively-wide annular spacer members and annular metal gaskets of V-shaped cross-section. each A spacer member including a shoulder on each side against which a nn is forced 1n fluid tight encomprising a ring having a shoulder on each side' and a ring provided with two frusto conical flanges adapted to press intervening fins against the respective shoulders of adjacent shouldered rings.

13. In an assembled nn radiator including an assembly of annular thin metal ns alternating with annular connector members, an improved annular connector member comprising a frusto conical ilange projecting from each side of an imaginary plane through the center of said member.

14. In an assembled nn radiator including an assembly of annular thin metal ns alternating with annular connector members, an improved annular connector member comprising a frusto conical flange adapted to force an intervening 1in against a shoulder on an adjacent member in said assembly. l

15. In an assembled heat exchanger, comprising an assembly of ilns alternating with annular Aconnector-spacer members adapted to form av substantially central conduit for the passage of heating or cooling medium, an improved annular connector-spacer member including a hollow frusto conical element an edge of which is adapted to force and hold an intervening iin against a shoulder on an adjacent member in said assembly.-

16. The heat exchanger defined by claim 15 in which a plurality of ilns are held between adjacent connector-spacer members.

17. The radiator deiined by claim 2 in which leach unit includes a nest of fins.

18. The fin radiator defined by claim `10 in which a nest of fins is included between adjacent spacing and coupling members.

19. A heat exchanger as dened by claim 12 in which a nest of fins alternates with annular connector members.

20.. An article of manufacture in which a layerv :sov

a layer of said relatively min material and homf ing it firmly locked against said shoulder.

4WILnUR G. LAIRD. 

